A new approach to early disease detection is being tested at Dzaleka, where more than 53,000 refugees live in a crowded environment that can make outbreak detection difficult. According to a recent article from the UNHCR Innovation Service, the initiative explores the use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as a way to track disease signals in the community before clinical cases are reported.
Wastewater-based epidemiology involves analysing sewage to estimate the presence of pathogens among a population. It can provide anonymous and wide-ranging indications of disease prevalence — capturing data from people who might not otherwise show up in health facility records. This method has already been used in other settings to track patterns of viruses like SARS-CoV-2, and UNHCR is investigating whether it can help anticipate outbreaks in displacement contexts like Dzaleka.
The pilot project, backed by UNHCR’s Data Innovation Fund, focused on detecting cholera signals through regular sampling of wastewater in the camp. Although challenges remain, early results suggest that WBE could be a valuable tool for proactive public health planning among refugees, offering a way to understand disease trends earlier and support more timely responses.
Source: UNHCR Innovation — Innovating to Anticipate Outbreaks (August 21, 2025) — https://medium.com/unhcr-innovation-service/innovating-to-anticipate-outbreaks-66bbfad07a28
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